Envelop-machine.



No. 687,552. Patented Nov. 26, |90l. B. F.BERRY.

ENVELOP MACHINE.

(Application led' May 20, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

No. 687,552. Patented Nov. 26, 190|.

. F. BERRY.

A LOP MACHINE.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

ed may 2Q, 1901.)

.ff .f2 g

No. 637,552, Patented Nov. 2s, |9ol.

B. F. BERRY.`

ENVELOP MACHINE. 'Y

Appuation med my 2o, 1901A l (No Model.) v3 Sheets-5heet 3 nmuuuunnn Il illliinlllllllli UNITED STATES BENJAMIN F. BERRY, OF S'I. LOUIS, AMISSOURI, SSIGNOR TO OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

PATENT OFFICE.

H. M. POLLARI),

SPECIFICATION forming part 'of Letters Patent No. 687,552, dated November 26, 1901.

Application tied my zo, 1901.

To all whom Iit may concern.-

Beit known that I, BENJAMIN F. BERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of machines used in the manufacture of envelops from prepared blanks.

The invention consists in features of nov^ elty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure I is an end view of the machine. Fig. II is a rear elevation. Fig. III is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line III III, Fig. I. Fig. IV is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line IV IV, Fig. I. Fig. Vis an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line V V, Fig. II. Fig. VI is a detail view of one of the flap-folders looking at the inside face thereof. Fig. VII is an enlarged detail view of the upper end of one of the flapfolders. Figs. VIII, IX, and X are enlarged cross-sectional views taken on the lines VIII, IX, and X, Fig. VI. Fig. XI is an enlarged detail View, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, of portions of the initial feedrollers and the gum ming device.` Fig. XII is an enlarged detail View, partly in plany and partly in horizontal section, taken on the line XII XII, Fig. V. Fig. XIII is an enlarged detail perspective View of one of the gumming-wheel Scrapers. Fig. XIV is an enlarged detail view of fragments of one of the folders and the plate by which the folder is supported.v Fig. XV is a view of the envelop-blank previous to its being folded. Fig. XVI is a rear view of the envelop-blank partially folded. Fig. XVII is a rear VView of the completed envelop. A

l designatesthe end walls of the machineframe.

2 is the top of the frame, surmounted by a top plate 3, provided with a centrally-located slot 4. (See Figs. I and V.) Y

5 designates a drive-shaft journaled in the end walls of the machine-frame and provided with a drive-pulley 6, that receives a belt serial No. 61,000. (Nd model.)

through which power may be applied to operate the mechanism of the machine. g

'S is a spur-wheel fixed to the drive-shaft 5 exterior' of tl1e.m achineframe, and on the shaft 5 between the frame end walls lis a delivery feed-roller 9, that is arranged to revolve with the drive-shaft 5. Positioned op posite the delivery feed-roller 9 is a delivery feed-roller 10, that is carried by a shaft Il, provided with a spur-wheel l2, arrangedin mesh with a spur-wheel S, so that the roller l0 is driven in unison with the roller 9. The roller 10 is adjusted toward the roller 9 by adj ustment-screws 13, seated in the frame end walls and arranged to bear against the movable journal-boxes 14 in which the shaft 1l is mounted.

15 designates a series of carrier-rollers having journals 16 mounted in the frame end walls and arranged in a tier one above another.

17 designates a series of sets of narrow pressure carrier-rollers, the series being equal in number to the carri er-rollers 15 and arranged in opposition thereto. The sets of pressure carrier-rollers I7 are adjustably mounted on shafts 1S and held by set-screws 17a. Each `shaft 18 is journaled in movable boxes 19,

seated in slots 2O in removable frames 2l, set into recesses in the frame end Walls l and secured thereto by screws 22 or other suitable means. (See Figs. I and V.) The pressure carrier-rollers 17 are yieldingly held to the carrier-rollers l5 by springs 23, that are backed by adj ustment-screws 24, thro ugh the medium of which the tension of the springs may be increased or diminished.

The journals I6 of the rollers 15 are each provided with spur-Wheels 25, fixed thereto exterior of the frame of the machine, and fixed to the shafts I8 of the rollers 17 are spur- Wheels 26, that mesh withV the spur-wheels 25. Power to drive the spur-wheels 25 and 26` is transmitted from the spur-wheel 8 on the drive-shaft 5 through a series of transmittingpinions 27, that mesh with the spur-wheel S and the spur-wheels 25. The sets of pressure carrier-rollers 17 are always used of a combined width less than the length of the envelop to be made in order that the adjustable Hap-folders, hereinafter described, may be positioned as closely together as is requisite to IOO suit the requirements of the envelops bein-g manufactured in the machine. By mounting the pressure-rollers in the removable frames 2l, said frames may be readily lifted from the end walls 1 of the machine-frame and .the pressure carrier-rollers removed therewith, so

`that the various parts may be readily gotten at `for repairs, dto.'

i 28 designates an initial feed-roller having journals 29 mounted in the frame end Walls 1 and positioned above the uppermost carrier= may be shifted on said shaftaccording to they length of the envelop being made and passed between the initial feed-roller 28 and the rings 33. On the shaft 30 are gumming-wheels 35, adjustably held byset-screws 36, so as to be capable of movement longitudinally of said shaft according to the length of the envelop y being made and through themediu m of which the endilaps of the envelops are gummed in a manner hereinafter described. The gumming-wheels are positioned immediately above and rotate in gum-reservoirs 37, mounted on cross-bars 38, secured to the machineframe and provided with longitudinally-extending slots 39, that receive adjustment.-

' bolts 40, by which the reservoirs are held in any desired fixed position, as seen in Figs. Il, V, and XI.

41 designates a cross-bar secured to the machine-frame (see Fig. V) and provided with longitudinally-extending slots 42. 43-designates arms adjustably secured vto the cross-bars 41by adjustmentbolts 44, thatpass therethroughaud through the kslots 42 in the cross-bar 4l. the direction of the gumming-wheels 35, and mounted thereon are bifurcated Scrapers composed of members 45, that straddle the gumining-wheels. The scraper members 45 are connected by an adjustment-screw 46, by which they may be drawn more closely together or separated more lor less to embrace the gumming-wheels as closely as desired to remove the surplus gum therefrom vas the gumming-wheels rotate.

47 designates bifurcated fingers adjustably secured to cross-bars 48, provided with longitndinally-extending slots49, that receive adjustment-bolts 50, seated in said lingers, so

k*that they may be moved longitudinally of the initial feed-roller 28. The bifurcated inner ends of the fingers 47, extending downwardly The-arms 43 extend in thereto.

51 and 52 are receiving-rollers, mounted immediately beneath the top plate 3, that receive the envelop-blank as it is introduced through the slot 4 in the top plate 3 and delivered thereto. The receiving-roller 52 is mounted in movable journal-boxes backed by springs 53, so that said roller 52 is yieldingly held to the roller 51. The initial feed-roller 28 is driven by power communicated to a spurwheel 54 from a transmitting-pinion 27, that meshes with the uppermost spur-wheel 25, and the spur-wheel 54 meshes with a spur-wheel 55 to drive the shaft 30. A transmitting-pinion 27, in mesh with the spur-wheel 54, conveys power to the spur-wheel 56 on the receiving-roller 52, and the spur-wheel 56 in turn meshes with a spur-wheel 57 on the shaft of the receiving-roller 5l to drive said lastnamed roller.

The envelop-blanks A of the form shown in Fig. XV are fed onto the top plate 3 of the vmachine and are carried through the slot 4 therein by a folderblade 58, that folds them on the line-between the back and front of the envelop and carries them downwardly to a position to be caught by the receiving-rollers 5l and 52, by which theyare caught and .delivered to the initial feed-roller 2S and the rings 33 on the shaft 30. The folder-blades 58 are carried by an arm 59, that has a vertical guide 60, arranged to operate vertically in the groove 61contained by one of the frame end wallsA l, (see Fig. IIL) whereby the folderblade is arranged to move vertically to cause it to move into and out of the slot 4in the top plate 3. Attached to the vertical portion of the folder-blade armis a reciprocating arm 62, that is provided with a slot 63.

` 64 designates a stub-shaft fixed to the machine-frame, and projecting outwardly therefrom and journaled in saidstnb-shaft is a cam'65, that carries a gear-Wheel 66. The stub-shaft 64 passes through the slot 63 in the reciprocating arm 62, carried by the folderblade arm, so that said arm is rendered capable of reciprocal movement on said stubshaft, and rota-tively mounted on the reciprocating arm is a roller 67, that travels on the periphery of Vthe cam 65, being held thereto by a spring 68, that is connected to a stem 69, projecting from the stub-shaft 64, and a stem 70, projecting from the reciprocating arm 62. By this arrangement the roller 67 is `main-- tained in constant bearing against the peripheryv of the cam 65, and as said cam is rotated the reciprocating arm 62 is raised and lowered to eect the vertical movement of the folder-blade-carrying arm 59 and the folder-blade 58 to feed the envelop-blanks into the machine in the manner stated. The

' gearwheel 66 is driven by a pinion 71', that is arranged in mesh therewith and also in mesh witht-he spur-wheel 57 on the shaft of IOO lICfj IIO y it terminates in a point.

the receiving-roller 5l. In order to provide for variation in the speed of movement of the folder-blade and the arm by which it is carried, gear-wheels 66 of varying sizes may be used. With this object -in View the pinion 71 is mounted on a stub-shaft 72, that is movably seated in a slot 73, contained by a hanger-bracket 74, (see Figs. I and IV,) attached to the machine-frame, so that said pinion 7l may be raised and lowered in said hanger-bracket to vmove it into mesh with the gear-wheel 66 after a change of gear-wheels is made. The stub-shaft is steadied by a link 75, mounted on the shaft of the receiving-roller 51.

76 designates a plate fixed to the frame of the machine and cut away at intervals to permit of the carrierrollers l5 operating therethrough, as seen in Fig. V. The plate 76 is provided intermediate of the carrierrollers 15 with slots 77. (See Fig. Il.) The slots 77 receive bolts 78, provided with adj ustment-nuts 79. The slotted plate 76 is ard ranged to support the end-flap folders, to be presently described, said folders being movably connected thereto by the bolts 78 and adjustment-nuts 79 thereon, so that they may be moved inwardly o'r outwardly to properly position them according to the size of the envelop being produced in the operation of the machine. The end-flap folders (two in number) are each composed of a single member 80, and they are positioned between the car rier-rollers 15 and the shafts 18 of the pressure carrier-rollers 17 beyond the ends of said rollers 17, as mos-t clearly seen in Fig. XII. Each folder is provided with a longitudinal groove 81, extending from end to end thereof and having an enlarged mouth 82 at the upper end. Extending from one side of each folder from a point below the upper end thereof is a groove 83, that leads downwardly and merges into the groove 81 at apoint above the lower end of the folder.

84 is a tongue integral with the folder member at the upper end thereof and projecting downwardly between the grooves 81 and 83, so as to separate them from each other, as seen in Figs. VI, VIII, and IX, the said tongue being of greatest diameter at its upper end and connection to the folder member and gradually decreasing in diameter to its lower end, where (See Fig. VI.) Beneath the lower end of the tongue 84 the groove 81 is unobstructed, and said groove is gradually contracted toward its lower terminus.

85 designates a pair of curved pressurestrips having their ends fixed to cross-bars 86, attached to the movable frame 21, by which the pressure-rollers 17 are carried. These pressure-strips are designed for service in holding the portions of the envelops that project beyond the ends of the pressure-rollers 17 against the carrier-rollers 15, so as to avoid liability of the envelops buckling between the ends of said pressure-rollers and the flap folders as they are carried through said fold ers by the rollers 15 and 17. As the envelops leave the Hap-folders they are caught by the delivery feedl rollers 9 and 10 and carried therethrough onto endless tapes 87, that are arranged to travel on the delivery feed-roller 9 and also on a discharging-roller 88, that is opposed by a discharging-roller 89, the shaft of which is adj ustably held by adjustmentscrews 90. After passing between the discharge-rollers 88 and 89 the envelops are conveyed from the machine on endless belts 91 to any desirable point of delivery, said lastnamcd belts being driven by the roller'88, about which they pass. The rollers 88 and 89 receive power-driving connection from the spur-wheel 12, that is conveyed from said spurl-wheel to spur-wheels 92 through a transmitting gear-wheel 93, that meshes with one of said spur-wheels 92.

The operation of thismachine is as follows: The prepared envelop-blanks being properly positioned on the top plate 3 and the mechanism of the machine being in motion, the folder-blade 58 descends upon each envelop blank as it is placed on the top plate and carries the blank in a folded condition downwardly, so that it is caught by the receivingrollers 51 and 52, which deliver the folded blank to the initial feed-roller 28 and the op posing feed-rings 33 on the shaft 30. As the folded blank passes between the feed-roller 28 and rings 33 the end flaps receive the contact of the gumming-wheels 35, thereby gumming said flaps, so thatthey are ready to be pressed to the back C of the envelop. The blanks then descend to and between the upper set of cary rier and pressure rollers 15 and 17, by which they are caught in their folded condition, be-

IOO

ing carried downwardly between the succeeding series of rollers 15 and 17 As the upper set of rollers 15 and 17 carry the envelop-blanks downwardly the ends thereof first pass into the mouths 82 of the longitudinal grooves 81 in the folder members 80, the ends of the envelops at this time being extended in a straight line, as seen in Fig. VII. The wall of lthe grooves 81 and 83 being tapered, as seen in Figs. VIII and IX, as the envelop-blanks are carried downwardly by the rollers 15 and 17 the end flaps B of the envelop-blanksare gradually curled toward the tongues 84 in the folderI members, while said tongue holds the envelops in flat condition, preventing buckling thereof while the envelops are passing through the folders, as illustrated in the successive positions seen in Figs. VIII and IX,

and the taper of the wall of the groove 81,

into which the groove 83 merges at the lower end of the tongue, being in like proportion to the taper of said wall opposite the tongue the end flaps B of the blanks are carried onto the backs C of the envelops, as seen in Fig. X. As the blanks are conveyed through the lower end of the groove 81 to the terminus thereof the flaps are pressed tightly to the backs of the envelops, so that while they are passing through the contracted lower end of IIO the groove 81 the gummed flaps are effectually pasted to the envelop-backs. The envelops are then in a completed condition and pass between the delivery feed-rollers 9 and 10 onto the endless tapes S7, thence between the delivery-rollers 88 and 89, and onto the con- Veyer-belts 91.

I claim as my inventionesas gumming-wheels and press the envelop-naps thereagainst, substantially as described.

4. In an envelop-machine, the combination of gumming means, a series of carrier-rollers,

a pair of folders through which 'the ends of the envelops are conveyed, a removable frame mounted in the main frame of the machine, a series of pressure carrier-rollers mounted 1. In an envelop-machine, the combination of a pair of folders, a series of carrier-rollers, and a series of sets of adjustable pressure carrier-rollers positioned on shafts opposite said carrier-rollers, substantially as described.

2. In an envelop-machine, the combination of envelop-carrier rollers, a pair of folders through which the ends of the envelops are conveyed, and pressure strips extending transversely of saidcarrier-rollers and adapted to bear against the envelops as they are conveyed between said carrierrollers and vthrough said folders, substantially as described.

3. In an envelop-machine, the combination carrying and folding means, means for feeding the envelops to said carrying and folding means, a pair of gumming-Wheelsand bifurcated fingers arranged to straddle said BENJAMIN BERRY.

In presence of- E. S. KNIGHT, M. P.. SMITH. 

